Despite a steady decline in the number of Americans who belong to labor unions over the past three decades, a new study shows strong support for the organizations.
Nearly half of Americans report pro-union leanings, according to the results of a recent national survey conducted by the Pew Research Center.
Pew’s survey, conducted March 25-29, involved 1,500 American adults.
While union membership has fallen by about 50% over the past 30 years, Pew’s survey indicates that an estimated 45% of Americans see the decline as a mostly bad thing.
Approximately 43% see the fall in membership numbers as a mostly good thing. The loss of union representation was seen as bad for working people by 52% of respondents. Another 40% see the overall decline as mostly good for working people.
When it comes to favorability of labor unions, Pew found 48% of Americans have positive views of these organizations.
Only 39% said they had an unfavorable view. Interestingly, the numbers track well with respondents’ opinions about business corporations.
A total of 48% of survey participants said they had a favorable view of businesses while 43% had an unfavorable view.
Americans Support the Right to Unionize
Pew researchers also delved into opinions about workers’ rights and abilities to unionize based on industry.
Researchers found a majority overall supported workers’ rights to unionize in such industries as:
- Manufacturing and factory work – 82% said workers should be able to unionize
- Public transportation workers – 74% said they should be able to unionize
- Police and firefighters – 72% said they supported workers’ right to unionize
- Public school teachers – 71% were in favor of workers’ rights
- Supermarkets and retail – 68% were in favor of workers having the right to unionize
- Fast-food workers – Some 62% were in favor of workers’ rights
Party Lines Matter
Not surprisingly, Pew researchers found that Democrats are more likely to support workers’ rights to unionize than their Republican counterparts.
Even so, 71% of Republicans supported factory and manufacturing workers’ rights to do so. More than half (59%) supported police and firefighter rights to do the same.
They also supported public transportation workers by a majority at 58% and teachers at 54%.
When it came down to fast-food workers, however, only 42% of Republicans supported the idea.
Democrats View Union Decline as Bad News for the Country, Workers
Of the Democrats surveyed, 59% said the decline in unions in recent decades has been bad for the country while 62% felt it was especially bad for workers.
On the other hand, Republicans see the fall in membership as mostly good for the country (62%).
When it comes to people, however, only a slight majority of Republicans (51%) say the reduction in union representation has been good for workers. Thirty-nine percent felt the decline was bad for workers.
Pew’s survey shows mixed results in regard to union support and overall impact of the multi-decade membership decline.
Even so, researchers note there is strong support for workers’ rights to unionize in a variety of industries even among Republicans.
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